Evaluation of the Effects of Probiotics on Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Patients Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important hospital infection. Supportive treatments along with antibiotic therapies play a pivotal role in VAP treatments. Studies have showed that probiotics are efficient in preventing different infections. In this study, we aimed to have a survey on possible role of probiotics in prevention of VAP in intensive care unit (ICU). This was a double-blinded clinical trial study on 126 patients admitted in ICU in Kashani hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Patients were divided into two groups and treated with probiotics and placebo. Data related to VAP incidence were collected and analyzed. Incidence of VAP was significantly lower in patients who used lactocare as probiotics than in placebo group. Other factors that played roles in VAP such as blood pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), white blood cell (WBC) count, and neutrophils percent were significantly in better range in patients under probiotic treatments. Generally, we indicated that probiotic usage is associated with decreased VAP and better results for blood pH, PCO2, WBC count, and neutrophils percent in ICU patients. We suggest that physicians pay much attention to probiotic usage in ICU patients and those in danger of VAP.